Sprocket-chain link



Dec. 27, 1927. 4 1,653,832

E. J., ARMSTRONG sPRockET CHAIN LINK Filed Sept. 19. 1922 llatented Dec. 27, 1927.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE,

EDWIN J. ARMSTRONG, GF ERIE, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR, BY ltIESNE ASSIGN 'MENTS, TO ERIE STEAM SIFIOVEL COMPANY, OF ERL'E, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORA- TlON 0F PENNSYLVANIA.

srnooknnonnm Link.

Application led September 19, 1922. Serial No. 589,553,

Difficulty has been experienced inV lubrieating chains and the like, particularly chains which form continuous tracks tor tractors and similar devices. Such tracks present a great number of joints so that if the frequent renewal of the lubricant is necessary a great vamount of labor is involved. The present invention is designed to supply lubricant toa chain or like device for a considerable period without renewal.

In carrying out the invention a chamber for lubricant is provided in cavities arranged in the links and i passages lead from these chambers to the joint. The point of exit or passage from the chamber being located at an intermediate point inthe chamber the chain will receive lubricant only in small amounts as the chain is reversed. Even with such a passage an excess` ot lubricant vis carried to the joint and consequently the period which can be covered by one i'illing of the cavity is shortened. To still further reduce the delivery of lubricant to the joint the passage is specially formed so that only a small portion of the lubricant which enters the passage with each revolution ofthe chainis carriedl to the bearing. Further it isfdesirable to limit the application of lubricant to the lower run of the` chain` and in the construction here shown this `isaecom lished. Y

T e invention is illustrated in the acconr panying drawings as follows l Fig. l shows a side elevation of a` chain, partly in i section, in place carried by sprockets ot usual constri'iction.A

Fig. 2 a plan view of the `back side of a chainlink. Y 'y Fig. 3 an enlarged view of one oi" the knuckles ofthe link. j

Fig. 4 a section on the line 4-41 in Fig. 3.

l marks the axles of a tractor which ,as shown is taken from a tractor of asteam shovel, 2 a driving sprocket, 3 an idler, and l one of the supporting rollers tor a track `5. The track is made up ot links 5a having supporting plates 5 and openings for receiving the sprocket teeth. Each link is provided with knuckle projections 6 which are adapt-ed to extend into the spaces 7 bei tween the knuckle projections 8 of the next succeeding link. The knuckles 6 areprovided with bearings 9 and pins 9" extend through the bearings 9 being preferablyl as the chamber is revolved with the chain l the lubricant at no time directly covers the opening to the passage l1. As shown there aretwo of these passages leading `troni the cavity one to each of the knuckles 6.

Even with the opening tothe passage located as described an excessot lubricant is' delivered to the passage and to the `joint and in consequence the period which the joint can be lubricated from one charging ot the cavityy is restricted. In order to prolong this period I prefer tovform diti'erent parts of the passage at an angle to each other, a part adjacent to the chamber l0 and a part ad]acent to the pin opening or bearing 6. A small quantity of lubricant, therefore, is taken into the entrance part oi' thepassage to the bearing l l ll as it is swung upright in the revolution passage. When the link is again reversedy the small portion ot the lubricant thus broughtv to the turn moves down the branch of the passage leading to the bearing and the remainder'o'f the lubricant drains down the portionot the passage back to the chamber. In this way there is a positive and assured feeding y of lubricant but in` a minute quantity. *l y It will be noted that the turn in the passage along theupper run ofthe chain is at the bottom, of thefpassage and tliebranch leading to the bearing has an upward incli`-` nation so that lubricant is `not delivered t0 the chain along theupper runbut is confined largely, ii not entirely, to the lower run of the chain. This is desirable because the con-` nection being under strain the pins are OH- set from the walls of the bearing to the greatest possible extent and thus permit of an axial movement of the lubricant.

I` preferto provide the bearing with av turning so as to move the opening 14 out of register with the passage 1l.

Itwill be noted that with the medial "posiity without at any time covering the `point of entrance, in as much as the cavity may be filled nearly half i'ull of lubricant at each filling without overiiowing the point oi en trance to the passage witliany position of the link.

`What claim as new is l; A sprocket chain link having a pin opening, a cavity for retaining a lubricant, and a passage in said link leading 'from the cavity tothe opening, said passage 'being adapted to convey liquid `from the cavity to the opening by gravity upon the rotation oi the link, said passage leading downward adjacent to the opening and delivering lubri cant thereto when the link is in a lower run ot a chain. j j

2. A sprocket chain link having apin opening, a cavity for retaining a lubricant, and a passage leading from the cavity to the pin opening, said' passage being adapted to kconvey liquid from the `cavity to the opening by gravity upon the rotation of the link, the `part of the passage adjacentto the opening being at anlangle to and forming a return bend relativelyto the part of the passage adacenttothe cavity, one leg oi `the return end extendingdupwardly from the bend as the other leg extends downwardly lrornthe bend. y

3. A` sprocket chain link having a pin opening, a cavity ior retaining a lubricant, and apassageleading" trom the cavity to the pin opening, 'thepart oi' the passage adjacent to the opening being at an angle to the part of t`lie `passage adjacent to the cavity and tliepart adjacent to the opening inclined downward to the opening with the link in a lower run of a chain. i

4. A sprocket chain link having) a pin opening, a cavity for retaining a lubricant, and a passage leading from a medial point 1n the cavity in a plane atrightiangles to the pin opening, said passage leading downward adjacent to the opening when the link is in a. lower run oi a chain.

5. A sprocket cham link having a pin opening, a cavity Al'or retaining a lubricant,

and a passage leading from a medial point in the cavity in a plane at right angles to the pin opening, the part ot` the passage adjacent to the opening being at an angle to the part oll the jiazfzsage adjacent to the cavity.

6. A sprocket chain link having a pin opening, a cavity i'or retaining a lubricant, and ,a passage leading from a medial point in the cavity to the piuopening, the part ot' the passage adjacent to the opening being at an angle to the part oi the passage adjacent to the cavity and the part adjacent to the open ing inclined downward `to the opening with the link in a lower run of a cha-in.

7. A sprocket chain link having a pin opening, a cavity ior lubricant, anda passage leading from the cavity to the pin opening, a bushing for the pinopening having an opening therethrough, and a tube extend ing through the opening in the bushing into the passagdsaid tube locking thehushing against turning and maintaining communication between the openingand the passage.

8. A chain link having la plurality of knuckle projections with a pin opening therethrough, a cavity for retainin a lubricant, and a passage leading from t 1e cavity tothe pin opening in each `knuckle projection, the passages having a part leading from the cavity "at an angle to the part adjacent te the ojiiening, said passage forming a return bend with one leg el" the bend vextending ujiwardlv as the other leg ci the bend exe tends downwardly.

9. A chain link having a plurality of knuckle projections with a ,pin opening therethrough, a cavity ior retaining a lnbrif,` cant, anda passage leading iromthc cavity to the pin opening in each knuckle 1projection, the passages having a part "leading `from the cavity atan angle to the partfadjal cent to the opening,` with the part adjacent tothe opening inclined downwardly withthe linkin a lower run oi' a chain, said passage forming a return bend with one lego'f the bend extending downwardly as the otherleg of the bend entends upwardly.

l In testimony whereof T have hereunto` set my hand. j

AEDlVllllil. ARMSTRONG.

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